Pathway design and key enzyme analysis of diosgenin biosynthesis.

Author: Zhongyi SUN ¹ ; Peng ZHAO ¹ ; Xizhen GE ² ; Pingfang TIAN ¹
Author Information

1. College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
2. College of Biochemical Engineering, Beijing Union University, Beijing 100023, China.
Publication Type:Review
Keywords: biosynthetic pathway; diosgenin; heterologous expression; key enzymes
MeSH: Biosynthetic Pathways/genetics*; Diosgenin; Metabolic Engineering
From: Chinese Journal of Biotechnology 2021;37(4):1178-1188
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: As a naturally occurring steroid sapogenin, diosgenin acts as the precursor of hundreds of steroid medicines, and thereby has important medicinal value. Currently, industrial production of diosgenin relies primarily on chemical extraction from plant materials. Clearly, this strategy shows drawbacks of excessive reliance on plant materials and farmland as well as environment pollution. Due to development of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology, bio-production of diosgenin has garnered plenty of attention. Although the biosynthetic pathways of diosgenin have not been completely identified, in this review, we outline the identified biosynthetic pathways and key enzymes. In particular, we suggest heterologous biosynthesis of diosgenin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Overall, this review aims to provide valuable insights for future complete biosynthesis of diosgenin.